With more than 20 years of experience in health care, Bridget Marzette-Bender is a Health care Subject Matter Expert (SME) and an extraordinary force of nature. As a highly skilled Human Resources professional, who specializes in human resources optimization, diversity and inclusion (D&I), learning and development, and employee engagement, Bridget has a special gift and ability to see untapped talent and additional opportunities for growth within people and organizations. Human Resources (HR) plays an essential role in ensuring health care systems are well equipped to deliver high-quality health care to individuals, families, and communities, and Bridget has helped drive this imperative function for multiple nationally ranked health care systems. Additionally, as a D&I advocate, Bridget has created and implemented inclusive recruitment best practices, internal engagement initiatives focused on enhancing employee inclusion and internal mobility and helped to create and implement cultural competency initiatives and training focused on improving patient access, satisfaction and medical adherence. At present, Bridget serves as the vice president of Mercy’s Experience & Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. In her role, Bridget focuses on enhancing and improving the overall experience and engagement of Mercy caregivers. She is responsible for overseeing and leading Mercy’s efforts to create positive, and memorable experiences for all stakeholders. Bridget oversees the ongoing commitment to social justice among consumers, co-workers and communities is a natural next step in our evolution. Bridget will report directly to me in administration. In her new role, she will serve as a thought partner, influencer and implementer providing proactive and innovative DEIB leader. Bridget will work at every level of Mercy to champion, develop and implement an aligned, integrated DEIB strategy with strategic plans and supporting tactics to meet Mercy’s strategic goals and in the development of Mercy’s comprehensive DEIB platform. Bridget serves as an ambassador, key member, and strategic advisor for diversity and inclusion across Mercy’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Cabinet. Bridget’s tenure at Mercy also includes serving as the vice president of Mercy’s Talent Relations Center as well as one of four diversity officers for Mercy. In her role, Bridget leads the Mercy’s Talent Relations Center, which is comprised of a team of exceptionally driven advisors, who field and respond to telephonic and digital inquiries and correspondence from Mercy employees. When she first started as Mercy, she was the director of human resources for Mercy Technology Services (MTS), where Bridget was responsible for providing leadership to support the long- and short-term goals of MTS. Bridget worked closely with the Talent Selection and Compensation departments to develop and implement initiatives to attract and retain information technology (IT), clinical and non- clinical professionals to Mercy across its four states of operation. Bridget is a member of Mercy Women in Leadership, where she previously served as the Vice Chairperson for the Events and Programming Committee. Bridget has excelled as an inspirational leader within multiple nationally ranked health care systems, and she has left an indelible mark on each organization and its team members and the communities each organization serves. Prior to Mercy, Bridget served in multiple capacities with Centene Corporation, where she served as Director, Culture and Employee Engagement; Director, Training; and Human Resources Manager, respectively. Prior to working at Centene, Bridget worked in Human Resources at St. Louis Children’s Hospital as a recruiter, Senior HR/OD Consultant and was promoted as the HR Manager/Business Partner for BJC Behavioral Health. Outside of work, Bridget is equally dedicated to improving the health and wellness of others. A cause close to her heart, Bridget has volunteered extensively to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer walks, organizations, and fundraisers. In 2012-2013, Bridget was selected by iHeartRadio as a hometown hero for her successful efforts raising awareness and participation in Sista Strut, a breast cancer walk dedicated to helping raise awareness of breast cancer among women of color, who are often faced with more aggressive disease progression and diagnoses. Bridget also served on the board of Valeda’s Hope, a breast cancer organization that donates palliative-care resources to women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She serves on the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis, MO and Good Shepard boards. Bridget attended Fontbonne University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and her master’s in business administration. Bridget is an alumnus of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellow – Cohort 8; and was recognized by Delux Magazine and one of 2018 Power 100 honorees. Bridget has been married to Shawn Bender for 37 years, and they have 3 children, Nicholas, Briana and Micah: and five grandchildren, Caden, Stella and Joie (JOY), Tripp, and Jewel. In her spare time she enjoys she enjoys reading, photography and traveling and spending time with her family and friends.